Manchester United have been linked with a move for out-of-favour Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Gago.

The Argentinian international is set to depart the Spanish champions this summer, after spending last season on loan with Italian outfit Roma.
Roma had the option to secure a permanent move for the 26-year-old at the end of his loan stint, but Roma boss Zdenek Zeman, who replaced Luis Enrique in January, has decided not to take up the option.

The Italian outfit could have secured Gago’s services on a permanent basis for a fee of 7m euros and it is thought a similar fee will be enough for United to convince Real to sell.Inter Milan have also been credited with an interest and United may face a battle to secure the player’s signature.

Sir Alex Ferguson has lacked a dedicated ‘enforcer’ ever since Owen Hargreaves was struck by his injury problems, since that point the Scot has made do with a number of players who can offer bite in the tackle but who are not specifically defensive midfielders.

The likes of Anderson and Darren Fletcher offer a bit of both worlds in regards to defensive and attacking traits. Paul Scholes has helped in this regard but clearly at 37 the Man United veteran is not a long, or even medium, term solution.

Gago wouldn’t cost the earth and perhaps the good relationship between Mourinho and Ferguson will make such a deal a fairly straightforward one.